Microsoft has released Windows Management Framework 4.0 which enables you to use management technologies available in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on some of Microsoft's older operating systems. The latest release include more features and improvements compared to the previously released preview edition released in July.

Microsoft has also provided a set of release notes and additional quick reference guides which provide information about new features including list of known issues with their workarounds and known incompatibilities with other applications. Moreover, the release notes also provide necessary details for all possible issues and their possible solutions, which
arise upon upgrading operating system from old to new version after the installation of Windows Management Framework 4.0

Windows Management Framework 4.0 can be installed on the following platforms except Windows 8.

According to official sources, Windows 8.1 includes all the updated features and improvements included with WMF 4 and is available as a free update for Windows 8. Additionally, .NET Framework 4.5 is an essential requirement for the installation of WMF 4.

If you attempt to run the setup of Windows Management Framework 4.0 without .NET Framework 4.5 then the installation will be successful but the components of WMF 4.0 will not be updated.

"If .NET Framework 4.5 is not installed, WMF 4.0 itself is not installed; but installing at least one of the QFEs in the package succeeds, so the combined package shows no installation errors," says John Lisco, Program Manager, Windows PowerShell, Microsoft.